Cooling curve apparatus

ABSTRACT

A stand for a cup having a thermocouple located therein for obtaining cooling curves of molten material such as cast iron. The stand is of the type having an electromechanical connection for engagement with mating connecting structure of the cup. The stand includes a pair of upstanding bimetallic blades which snugly engage the wall of the cup when it is placed on the stand which blades distort when molten material is poured into the cup thus heating it and the blades so that the cup may be easily removed from the stand. The bimetallic blades may be part of an assembly readily attached and detached from the stand.

United States Patent n91 Clark et al.

[4 1 May 13,1975

[ COOLING CURVE APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Alexander H. Clark,Norristown,

Pa.; Richard J. Hance, Philadelphia,

[73] Assignee: Leeds & Northrup Company, North Wales, Pa.

[22] Filed: July 3, 1974 211 App]. No.: 485,665

3,813,944 6/1974 Ryntz 3,844,172 10/1974 Jeric 73/359 PrimaryExaminerl*lerbert Goldstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Philemon J. Moore;Raymond F. MacKay [57] ABSTRACT A stand for a cup having a thermocouplelocated therein for obtaining cooling curves of molten material such ascast iron. The stand is of the type having an electromechanicalconnection for engagement with mating connecting structure of the cup.The stand includes a pair of upstanding bimetallic blades which snuglyengage the wall of the cup when it is placed on the stand which bladesdistort when molten material is poured into the cup thus heating it andthe blades so that the cup may be easily removed from the stand. Thebimetallic blades may be part of an assembly readily attached anddetached from the stand.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Pmmm 3,882,727

FIG. 2

FIG. I

COOLING CURVE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention Apparatus for obtaining cooling curves of molten materials maybe found in Official U.S. Patent Office subclasses relating to Measuringand Testing, Thermometer, Current Generating type.

2. Description of Prior Art Apparatus employing expendable cups or moldscontaining a heat sensing device for obtaining a cooling curve of amolten material have been referred to as expendable phase changedetector devices as described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,267,732which became Re.26,409. Molds of the foregoing type include athermocouple and plug-in means to make an electromechanical connectionthereto. Such molds are normally placed on a suitable stand havingmating electromechanical connector structure. A recorder connected tothe stand will record the temperature of material poured into the moldas it cools. The material of the mold and the speed of response of therecorder are related in a manner such that arrest points in the coolingcurve are exhibited for determination of the composition of the materialplaced in the mold. It is desirable that such molds be securelysupported on the stand so that good electrical connection is maintainedwhile the molten sample is poured into the mold and during cooling ofthe sample. It is also desirable to be able quickly and easily to removethe hot mold from the stand in a manner which is safe and convenient foran operator.

Applicants have discovered an arrangement whereby a mold at ambienttemperature is held securely on a stand by means which automaticallyreleases its hold on the mold as the mold becomes heated by moltenmaterial poured therein so that the mold may be easily removed from thestand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with applicants invention aholder is provided for an expendable mold containing a heat sensingelement for phase change detection apparatus of the type havingelectromechanical contact structure for plug-in engagement with matingelectromechanical contact structure of a test stand. The holdercomprises temperature responsive means to engage and provide a holdingforce on an expendable mold when the mold and temperature responsivemeans are substantially at the ambient temperature of a test locationand release the holding force when the temperature responsive means isheated to a temperature substantially higher than the ambienttemperature by molten material poured into the mold. The holder alsoincludes means for securing the temperature responsive means to the teststand in a position to engage and release the mold. More specificallythe temperature responsive means which provides the holding force iscomprised of bimetallic means. The bimetallic means may take the form ofa bimetallic blade supported in position to engage the mold at ambienttemperature. The blade when heated deforms in a directionto move awayfrom engagement with the mold to render the mold easily removable. In apreferred form of the invention the holder may include a pair of bladesof bimetallic material supported diametrically opposite each other.

It is an object of applicants invention to provide a test stand for anexpendable phase change detector device, such as a mold containingtemperature sensing means. The stand comprises a base and uprightstructure for supporting a mold containing temperature sensing means,the structure also supporting electrical contacts for connection withelectrical conductors of the temperature sensing means of the mold. Thestand additionally includes heat responsive means which when the standand the mold are at substantially the ambient temperature of a testlocation will engage the mold placed on the stand for retention of themold on the stand. The heat responsive means is operable upon theapplication of heat thereto to become disengaged from the mold for easeof removal of the mold from the stand. More specifically the heatresponsive means includes a bimetallic strip mechanically engageablewith the mold. Preferably heat is applied to the heat responsive meansthrough a wall of the mold engaged with the heat responsive means whenthe mold is filled with a molten material the temperature of which isabove the ambient temperature of the test location.

It is further an object of our invention to provide a test stand for anexpendable cup of a cooling curve apparatus wherein the stand is of thetype including electrical contact structure for connection withelectrical contact structure of a cup. The stand additionally includes aplurality of upstanding blades at least one of which is comprised of abimetallic strip material. The blades are secured to the stand in aposition to engage a wall of a cup when the cup is installed on thestand with the cup and stand substantially at the temperature of a testlocation. Heating of the cup and the blades as a result of pouring hotmolten material into the cup, after an adequate rise in temperature,causing said bimetallic strip to deform in a direction to becomedisengaged from the wall of the cup. More specifically the blades aresupported by a ring structure to form a holder which is readilyattachable and detachable from the stand.

For additional objects and for a better understanding of applicantsinvention and the advantages obtained by its use the followingdescription and claims should be read with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly insection illustrative of an expendable cup and stand therefor with aholder in accordance with applicants invention, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale showing a cup on theupper portion of the stand of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right side ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 there is shown anexpendable cup 15 which is also known as an expendable phase changedetector device. The cup is adapted to be placed on a stand 10 of a typewhich has become quite familiar to those skilled in the art. The stand10 comprises a conduit box 11 mounted by means of a short nipple andreducer to a pipe flange so that the structure may be supported on thefloor or on a table. The conduit box, short nipple, reducer and pipeflange are all commercially available items well known to those skilledin the art. Projecting from the upper end of the stand 11 is a shortnipple 12 which contains therein a receptacle having a pair of femalecontact structures to receive in plug-in relation thereto the connectorpins 13a and 13b of a connector 13 which is an electromechanicalconnector for supporting an expendable phase change detector in the formof the mold or cup 15. Pins 13a, 13b which plug into the femaleconnectors contained within the nipple 12 are connected through thestand to a cable 18 for making electrical connection with a recordingdevice, not shown, in a manner well understood by those skilled in thearts. A more complete description of cooling curve apparatus is setforth in US. Pat. Re. 26,409 and references contained therein.

The connector 13 includes a pair of electrically conductive connectorpins 13c, 13d electrically connected to pins 13a, 13b. It also includesa pair of electrically nonconductive cup orienting posts I3e, 13f; thepost 13f being located directly behind post Be is obscured thereby inFIG. 1.

A complete description of the apparatus so far described is published inLeeds 81. Northrup Co. brochure entitled Before pouring check withTectip which is available from that company located at North Wales,Pennsylvania 19454 by requesting plubication E2.2241FL published May1972. The expendable cup 15 has therein a thermocouple 16 with a heatsensing portion 17 comprised of a junction between a pair of wires 17a,17b. The wires l7a, 17b are bent outwardly at the bottom of the cup intorecesses 15a, 15b to form plug-in electrical contacts to mate with pins13c, 13d. Upon placing cup 15 on the stand with the wires 17a, 17b inelectromechanical connection with the pins 13c, 13d the junction 17 ofthe thermocouple 16 is connected electrically through the stand by wayof the cable 18 to a recorder, not shown, in a manner well understood bythose skilled in the art and as described in the above mentioned Leeds &Northrup Co. publication. As best shown in FIG. 2, posts 13e and 13f ofconnector l3 cooperate with fins 15c and 15d of the cup 15 to insuremaking the electrical connection with the proper polarity. The foregoingapparatus has been commercially available from the Leeds & NorthrupCompany for several years and has proved quite satisfactory for itsintended purpose. It per se is not applicants present invention.

Some users of the above described apparatus, which is characterized byease of removal of the expendable cup by merely tipping it from thestand so that a new cup may be quickly plugged-in, find use for theapparatus under conditions where it is deemed necessary to hold the cupon the stand more securely during the pouring of a sample and obtaininga cooling curve.

In order to provide the test stand with means for more securely holdingthe cup on the stand for a limited period of time applicants havedevised a structure comprised of a metal ring 20 which may be secured tothe nipple 12 as by screws 21, 22. Welded or otherwise secured to ring20 is a pair of upstanding blades 23, 24 of bimetallic material such asis best shown in FIG. 2. The dimensions and locations of various partsare such that with the stand and cup at the ambient temperature of thetest location, a cup 15 when plugged onto the stand 11 will be receivedin gripping engagement between the blades 23, 24 in the manner shown inFIG. 2. After molten material such as cast iron or steel is poured intothe cup 15 it will heat the cup to a high temperature. For examplemolten iron poured into the mold will be at a temperature above about2,400 Fahrenheit. Heat will be conducted through the walls of the cupthus heating the blades 23, 24 which causes the blades to deflect in amanner such that they assume positions as indicated by the dash-lineposition for each of the blades due to the fact that the blades are madeof a bimetallic material. As is well understood by those skilled in thearts, deflection of the blades is caused by the differing rates ofexpansion of the different materi als which are bonded together to formbimetallic strip material from which the blades are fabricated. Theextent of the deflection has been exaggerated in FIG. 2 more clearly toillustrate the manner in which the blades move away from contact withthe sides of the cup so that it may be readily removed from the stand inthe manner previously described. The fit of the pins 13c, 13d withrespect to the electrical contacts 17a, 17b and the loose fit betweenthe guide posts 13e, 13f with respect to the ribs c and I511 of the cupare such that it is easy to remove the detector device by merelyknocking it from the stand by a quick kick or by the use of a rod orstick.

In a modification of applicants invention as reduced to practicebimetallic strip about one-fourth inch wide comprised of one-sixteenthinch thick Monel metal brazed to a one-sixteenth thick copper-manganesealloy was found to be satisfactory. It took about four minutes for thematerial to deflect sufficiently to become disengaged from the cup whenbeing heated by molten metal and about the same amount of time for theblades to cool and return to normal after a hot cup was removed. As isreadily apparent, the ring with the blades 23, 24 may be readily mountedon or removed from a stand 10 strictly in accordance with an operatorspreference. If desired a stand may also be constructed with heatresponsive means as a permanent part thereof and using arrangements ofcomponents different from the parts and arrangements shown in applicantsdrawings.

While applicants have described their device in detail it is believedapparent that the principals employed by applicants may be applied inthe formation of devices for like purpose which may be constructed in adifferent though equivalent form. The structure described is in no wayintended to be limiting.

What is claimed is:

l. A holder for an expendable mold for phase change detection apparatusof the type wherein a mold containing a heat sensing element haselectromechanical contact structure for plug-in engagement with matingelectromechanical contact structure of a test stand,

said holder comprising:

temperature responsive means to engage and provide a holding force on anexpendable mold when said mold and said temperature responsive means areat substantially the ambient temperature of a test location and releasesaid holding force when said temperature responsive means is heated to atemperature substantially higher than said ambient temperature by moltenmaterial poured into said mold, and

means for securing said temperature responsive means to said test standin a position to engage and release said mold.

2. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said temperature responsivemeans is comprised of bimetallic means.

3. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said bimetallic means is'in theform of a bimetallic strip supported in position to engage said mold atambient temperature and which when heated deforms in a direction to moveaway from engagement with said mold.

4. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said bimetallic means iscomprised of a pair of bimetallic blades supported diametricallyopposite each other.

5. A test stand 'for an expendable phase change detector device,- saidstand comprising:

a base and upright structure for supporting a mold containingtemperature sensing means, said structure also supporting electricalcontacts for connection with electrical conductors of said temperaturesensing means of said mold, and

heat responsive means which when the stand and a mold are atsubstantially the ambient temperature of a test location will engage amold placed on said stand for retention of the mold on the stand andwhich means is operable upon the application of heat thereto to becomedisengaged from the mold for ease of removal of said mold from saidstand.

6. A test stand according to claim 5 wherein said heat responsive meansincludes a bimetallic strip mechanically engageable with said mold.

7. A test stand according to claim 5 wherein heat is applied to saidheat responsive means through a wall of a mold engaged with said heatresponsive means when said mold is filled with a molten material thetemperature of which is above the ambient temperature of the testlocation.

8. A test stand for an expendable cup of a cooling curve apparatus, saidstand being of the type including electrical contact structure forconnection with electrical contact structure of an expendable phasechange detector cup, said stand additionally including:

a plurality of upstanding blades at least one of which 9. A test standaccording to claim 8 wherein said blades are supported by ring structureto form a holder which is readily attachable and detachable from saidstand.

1. A holder for an expendable mold for phase change detection apparatusof the type wherein a mold containing a heat sensing element haselectromechanical contact structure for plug-in engagement with matingelectromechanical contact structure of a test stand, said holdercomprising: temperature responsive means to engage and provide a holdingforce on an expendable mold when said mold and said temperatureresponsive means are at substantially the ambient temperature of a testlocation and release said holding force when said temperature responsivemeans is heated to a temperature substantially higher than said ambienttemperature by molten material poured into said mold, and means forsecuring said temperature responsive means to said test stand in aposition to engage and release said mold.
 2. A holder according to claim1 wherein said temperature responsive means is comprised of bimetallicmeans.
 3. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said bimetallic means isin the form of a bimetallic strip supported in position to engage saidmold at ambient temperature and which when heated deforms in a directionto move away from engagement with said mold.
 4. A holder according toclaim 2 wherein said bimetallic means is comprised of a pair ofbimetallic blades supported diametrically opposite each other.
 5. A teststand for an expendable phase change detector device, said standcomprising: a base and upright structure for supporting a moldcontaining temperature sensing means, said structure also supportingelectrical contacts for connection with electrical conductors of saidtemperature sensing means of said mold, and heat responsive means whichwhen the stand and a mold are at substantially the ambient temperatureof a test location will engage a mold placed on said stand for retentionof the mold on the stand and which means is operable upon theapplication of heat thereto to become disengaged from the mold for easeof removal of said mold from said stand.
 6. A test stand according toclaim 5 wherein said heat responsive means includes a bimetallic stripmechanically engageAble with said mold.
 7. A test stand according toclaim 5 wherein heat is applied to said heat responsive means through awall of a mold engaged with said heat responsive means when said mold isfilled with a molten material the temperature of which is above theambient temperature of the test location.
 8. A test stand for anexpendable cup of a cooling curve apparatus, said stand being of thetype including electrical contact structure for connection withelectrical contact structure of an expendable phase change detector cup,said stand additionally including: a plurality of upstanding blades atleast one of which is comprised of bimetallic strip material, saidblades being secured to said stand in a position to engage a wall of acup when a cup is installed on said stand with said cup and standsubstantially at the temperature of a test location, and heating of thecup and said blades as the result of pouring hot molten material intosaid cup after an adequate rise in temperature causing said bimetallicstrip to deform in a direction to become disengaged from said wall ofsaid cup.
 9. A test stand according to claim 8 wherein said blades aresupported by ring structure to form a holder which is readily attachableand detachable from said stand.